Episode 03: From Controlling the Press to Power Grabs

In today’s episode of Surviving Trump, we continue our deep dive into the pillars of democracy and how Trump’s actions are threatening them. With four years ahead, his efforts to consolidate power are just beginning.

We’ll explore two critical pillars:

• Checks and Balances – How Trump is bypassing safeguards meant to limit presidential power.
• Freedom of Speech & Press – How he’s controlling the narrative and silencing critics.

Understanding these attacks on democracy isn’t just important—it’s essential. The more informed we are, the better prepared we are to resist.

Key Quotes from the Blue Choir Panel

• “The weakening of checks & balances will cause further lack of confidence in protecting democracy.” – Arthur
• “Some judges, lawmakers, and influencers are standing up, but too many are going with the flow—or worse, joining in.” – Karen 

Next Episodes: 

• Episode 4:
  • The growing power of Christian nationalism, aims to blur the lines between church and state. We’ll also explore Trump’s aggressive changes to education policy—shaping what children learn, who controls the curriculum, and how these shifts could erode democracy for generations to come.
• Episode 5: 
  • With sweeping executive orders, Trump’s administration is dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, reversing decades of civil rights protections, and reshaping the justice system to serve political interests. These moves threaten equal opportunity, limit access to education, and push law enforcement toward authoritarian control.

Transcript

 Bella Goode  00:00

Hello everyone, and welcome to surviving Trump. I'm Bella Goode, and today we're pressing ahead with the impact that Trump is having on our Pillars of Democracy. And with four years to go, we know that he's just getting started. I know that this might be dry material to listen to, not exactly the democratic answer to Joe Rogan but hear me out. 

The more informed we are about our freedoms and the attempts underway to restrict or remove these freedoms, the better prepared we will be to resist this insanity. Since his return to office in January, Trump has spewed out a boatload of policies and executive orders that are having profound implications for our country. 

I repeat this mantra in every episode. Democracy matters because it gives us a voice. It protects our freedoms. It keeps power in check. It's not perfect. It can be slow and messy, but because it's built on debate and fairness, if we take it for granted, though, we risk losing it to authoritarian rule where power goes unchecked. History shows that once democracy is lost, it's much harder to get back, and that's why we must defend it. We must stop the backsliding of democracy. I began our series on The Pillars of Democracy last week, and just to refresh your memory, The Pillars are deeply rooted in the Constitution, but they also draw from broader values and principles that have evolved over time through laws, court decisions and what you might call common practice. 

I think of The Pillars of Democracy as a kind of current version of the Constitution. Last week's episode began our series on the first two pillars, Fair and Free Elections, which is a key part of democracy. But of course, recent moves by the administration have raised serious concerns about the integrity of our voting system. 

The second pillar we discussed is The Rule of Law and the overreach of the presidency currently. Recent executive actions are showing a growing concentration of power in the executive branch, out of bounds and with no guardrails. One of the members on my panel, which I call The Blue Choir, submitted this comment, which I think is spot on about The Rule of Law. 

"The American Bar Association summarizes this pillar as a set of principles or ideals for ensuring an orderly and just society. Many countries throughout the world strive to uphold the rule of law where no one is above the law, everyone is treated equally under the law, and everyone is held accountable to the same laws. There are clear and fair processes for enforcing the law. There is an independent judiciary, and human rights are guaranteed for all." 

With that said, let's turn our attention to two more of the pillars. In this episode, we will cover Pillar Three, which is The Checks and Balances, or as we're starting to experience, The Power Grab. And we will also cover Pillar Four, which is Freedom of Speech and Press, and we, right now, appear to be experiencing The Controlling of the Narrative. 

We will also cover Pillar four, Freedom of Speech and Press. For each of these, I'll be focusing on actions that are driving us crazy and the potential threat to democracy. I'll also touch upon some of the remedies, but this is a huge topic deserving of several episodes of focus that will come down the road. So let's get started. Pillar three, it's about checks and balances. It's the system that limits power of the president. The US government is designed so that no one branch has too much power. But in his second go around, Donnie is taking more control than ever, changing the government in ways that go against the golden rules. With the help of powerful buds like Elon Musk and other loyalists, he is weakening our institutions. He's ignoring Congress, and he's bypassing the checks that normally keep a president in line. He claims that this is what his supporters want. He claims he has a mandate, but his actions are scaring the hell out of me. 

Can anything stop him? Or is democracy in perilous danger? When the people who created our government designed the systems of checks and balances they wanted to protect individual rights. These rights were written into the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, which was approved in 1789, they were also trying to guard against three big dangers. First, they wanted to make sure that no one person had too much power, like a king or Trump. To prevent this, they gave Congress a lot of control, balanced by the Supreme Court and a system where states shared power with the national government. This is all called checks and balances. 

Secondly, they worried about corruption leaders using their position to make themselves rich or powerful in unfair ways. They had seen this happen under King George and in the American colonies. To stop it, the Constitution included rules like the Emoluments Clause, which blocks officials from taking gifts or money from foreign governments, and impeachment a way to remove corrupt leaders. Finally, they feared what is called the tyranny of the majority. This happens when a large group led by a strong president takes away the rights of others. To prevent this, they created a system where no temporary majority could easily take control the Bill of Rights, and the checks and balances were put into place to protect everyone's freedom. 

So what evidence do we have that these fears, or the fears of our founding fathers, were justified? Trump, I believe, has them turning over in their graves. George Washington is choking on his wooden teeth, and Thomas Jefferson has a migraine to end all migraines. They are staring down in utter disgust. Here's what they see. A plan once pushed by Steve Bannon is now happening. Federal agencies are being shut down or stripped of power. Career government workers are being fired, and Trump and musk are pulling more decisions under their direct control. These changes are happening fast and before anyone can really fight back. Then there's Musk's huge unchecked power. 

Even though Musk isn't even in the government, he has a huge influence over how it's being run. He has helped dismantle the nonprofit organization USAID, and he's gained access to sensitive financial systems. His power raises big concerns about who is really in charge and whether anyone is holding him accountable. The answer, I believe, is no. So Congress and the courts are struggling to respond. Democrats don't have enough power to stop Trump's actions, and most Republicans are trepidating loyalists helping him instead of pushing back. The courts are challenging him on many fronts now, but legal cases take time, giving Trump space to reshape the government before anything can be stopped. It's a total train wreck. 

Remember, we're talking about checks and balances versus Trump's extreme use of presidential power. Government watchdog agencies have been silenced. Career officials moved and federal workers replaced with loyalists. The FBI and the DOJ are being reshaped to serve Trump's political goals. Rules meant to limit a president's power, like Congress's control over government spending, are being ignored. So what's the long term risk to democracy? 

While Trump is following the ideas of project 2025, which pushes for a president with almost unlimited power, his approach looks more like an authoritarian government, where laws and institutions exist only to serve the leader. If nothing stops, these changes the way the US government works may never be the same. I feel like climbing into a hole. The whole situation is so unnerving as Trump continues reshaping the presidency, here's the $64 million question, can any part of the government stop him, or is the US moving head first into authoritarian rule? Weakening these limits on power puts the country at risk of losing the system designed to keep leaders like Trump shackled with a ball and chain. 

So my panel, I call them members of The Blue Choir, the panel that feeds me comments each week, they have also weighed in on the issue of checks and balances and with Trump's overreaching, my friend Art said, "I think it's safe to say that many citizens feel that controls over government spending result in inefficiency and at times, waste and fraud. The weakening of current levels of checks and balances will clearly cause a further lack of confidence in protecting the chicken pen. I was an auditor way back when, and I appreciate the impact this function has on a business." 

And my friend Christy adds to this with her comment, "Checks and balances is probably the most important to me. If one area is compromised, there needs to be securities in place to keep it from spreading across all areas. We're seeing some judges willing to uphold the rule of law, some states and lawmakers willing to stand tall, some pop icons speaking out, and some people in positions of power resigning rather than compromising their values. But unfortunately, too many people are going with the flow, or worse, they're jumping on the bandwagon." 

And several other panelists have agreed. "Pillar three is the most important, because it makes the world a safer place from someone trying to take too much power." So just to reinforce this message, presidential checks and balances are important because they help keep our democracy fair and strong. They make sure that no one person, not even the President, has too much power the three branches of government, the Congress, the President and the Supreme Court, must work together to hold each other accountable. This prevents unfair laws, protects people's rights and stops leaders from making decisions that only benefit themselves. Without checks and balances, one branch could become too powerful and threaten our freedoms by making sure that power is shared, democracy stays safe for everyone. 

So with that said, let's move on to Pillar Four, which is Freedom of Speech and Press. Freedom of Speech and Press: we've lost the narrative. Let's address how Trump's actions threaten free speech and the press. A free press is important because it keeps leaders honest and make sure that the public knows the truth. But when leaders try to control the news, control the narrative, democracy is at risk. Hmm, I wonder if that's what Trump has been doing. Freedoms of Speech and Free Press aren't just ideas. They're what keeps America's democracy strong, they help expose corruption and they keep leaders in check. But what happens when those in power, they simply don't like the truth? 

Donald Trump says he's a defender of free press, but his actions show just the opposite. While he complains about government censorship, he has no problem suing journalists attacking news outlets and forbidding press attendance at the White House when, for example, the AP, The Associated Press refused to acknowledge the name Gulf of America, I can't even say those words, Gulf of Mexico, and even forgiving people who assaulted reporters in the past. This isn't just about Trump. It's about protecting democracy. 

A Free Press ensures that no president can hide from criticism, but when leaders start punishing journalists and removing fact checkers, democracy starts to look more like an authoritarian rule. So what's the truth behind Trump's free speech claims? Well, here's the reality, just a few of the many ways that Trump is lording over the press. Trump signed an order claiming to protect free speech by stopping the government from pressuring social media companies to remove posts. That means Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, don't have to take any steps to assure posts are actually factual. The problem? Well, this actually makes it harder for these platforms to remove false information, even if it's completely untrue just what they wanted. 

For example, after the order, Facebook got rid of its fact checking program, which had flagged false claims about elections, vaccines and climate change, this looks like giving in to political pressure. They twisted the intent of the freedom of speech to meet their end goals. Another way that Trump is making a change is that he is suing journalists while claiming defend free speech. He has a history of suing journalists and news companies he just doesn't like. For example, he sued the New York Times, he sued CNN, he sued the Washington Post over articles about Russian interference in the 2016 election. All these lawsuits were thrown out. 

He also tried to sue Hillary Clinton over the same issues, but a judge called the case frivolous. Trump and his lawyers were fined nearly a million dollars for wasting the court's time. Trump has also pardoned people who attacked journalists. Free Speech means nothing if reporters are physically attacked for doing their job. Remember, Trump pardoned at least 13 people who attacked journalists during the January 6 riots. Some were caught on video punching the reporters or smashing their equipment. 

At his rallies, Trump has even encouraged violence against journalists, once telling the crowd "It's okay to knock the crap out of them. Go ahead." Trump also has a maniacal habit of silencing his critics while spreading disinformation. Trump and his allies now, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, have made it easier for false information to spread on their massive platforms, while blocking critics. After Musk bought what is now X, he banned several journalists who criticized him or Trump. 

At the same time, he brought back accounts that had been banned for spreading election lies. Again, this isn't about free speech. It's about protecting voices that support Trump while silencing those who don't. Trump has also threatened to punish news outlets. Trump has suggested dangerous ways to punish news organizations that report stories that he doesn't like. He threatened to revoke NBC broadcast license just because he didn't like their reporting. This is the kind of move authoritarian leaders make. 

He has also suggested jailing reporters who won't reveal their sources, which would make it that much harder to investigate corruption. Quite frankly, it's open season on the media. Here's a quote from Trump's FCC chair Brendan Carr, the top communications regulator, "he is about to launch a blitz of investigations and warnings, in effect, forcing compliance with the administration's policies, curbing DEI initiatives. 

His actions portray how fear silences the press, particularly mainstream media, even without direct censorship, constant attacks on the press make news organizations hesitant to publish critical stories." Back in January, Pulitzer Prize winning political art cartoonist Anne Telnaes quit the Washington Post after they pulled her cartoon criticizing Trump and big tech. At the LA Times, an opinion piece was reportedly edited at the last minute to soften criticism of Trump's controversial Health and Human Services pick, now confirmed candidate, Robert F Kennedy Jr. This isn't government censorship, but it creates a chilling effect where journalists sold back out of fear of backlash and corporate ownership like Jeff Bezos kowtows to Trump. 

MSNBC issued this quote over the press restrictions imposed on the AP because they refused to acknowledge Trump's name change for the Gulf of Mexico. 

"There is an apparent expectation in the west wing that news organizations will either use Trump approved language or they should expect to be punished. Welcome to the exciting new era for the First Amendment in which people and businesses are free to use the words and phrases that Republicans like, or else there will be consequences." 

Of course, the entire dark situation has a damaging impact on democracy. A Free Press isn't just a good thing, it's what separates democracy from authoritarian rule. The US has fallen into 55th place in the World Press Freedom Index because of growing hostility towards the media. Attacks on journalists doubled in 2024 compared to the year before, rising alongside of Trump's campaign. His violent language encourages real world violence. We haven't even touched upon the unjustified attacks on public information sources. 

Trump's administration has already removed important content from government websites, including topics on diversity, equity, inclusion, race, gender and sexual identity. This limits public knowledge and shuts down important discussions, and not to mention defunding Public Broadcasting, which makes my heart break. The administration has suggested cutting funding for PBS and NPR, calling them biased. 

If this happens, independent journalism will suffer and people will have access to fewer sources of truly reliable information and entertainment. So some final thoughts on this subject. Trump's attacks on the press aren't about protecting free speech. They're about controlling the truth. He wants to spread disinformation while making sure journalists who challenge him face consequences, and that's not how democracy works. 

A truly free society does not allow speech that benefits those in power. It protects the voices that challenge them. If we let attacks on the press continue, we risk a future where only the truth is what those in charge say it is. And once that happens, democracy won't last. Can you imagine the day when Trump has all the economic data under his control? That's the day when every report and forecast about inflation, bacon and egg prices will be rosy. 

Today we talked about Checks and Balances and Freedom of Speech and Press. These Pillars of Democracy are weakening, and the entire system will become unstable. Checks and balances exist to prevent any one leader from becoming too powerful, but efforts to dismantle these protections put the country at risk of authoritarian rule. Controlling the press and limiting free speech means that those in power can spread falsehoods without being challenged, making it harder for people to know what is true. If the leaders can silence journalists and critics democracy suffers because informed citizens are essential for holding power accountable. 

We will continue our discussion of The Pillars of Democracy next week, when we will cover Pillar Five: Separation of Church and State, especially with Christian nationalism on the rise, and Pillar Six: Education, we will be discussing who's in control and what kids will be learning. 

Until then, the two requests that I always make of you, leave a comment. The transcript for today's episode is available along with references and links. Start a discussion, ask questions, challenge ideas. This is a community for you and I. And leave a review. If this podcast resonates with you, let me know. If it doesn't, tell me that too, I want to get it right. Should I keep going? Should I tweak the approach? Your honesty is invaluable. Oh, and follow me on Blue Sky. And on that note, I will leave you with some Borowitz humor. 

Dateline, Washington, the Borowitz report, it is set back to Donald J Trump's plan to turn over the Gaza strip into the Riviera of the Middle East. On Wednesday, the four year old son of Elon Musk called to proposal. "Idiotic. You're saying the United States would own Gaza? X musk," that's his name, X Musk told Trump in an Oval Office meeting. "Who would we be buying it from, and what would become of the 2 million Palestinians who call it home. Removing an entire population is tantamount to ethnic cleansing and contravenes the entire international law. You need to think this stuff through, dumbass" X added. X's comment drew broad praise from leaders across the Middle East, including Jordan's King Abdullah the second who remarked, finally, there is an adult in the room. 

Until next time, stay engaged, stay informed, and, most importantly, stay in the fight. This is Bella Goode signing off.